Fireplace.



No. 64l,9l8. Patented Jan. 23, I900.v

L. C. ANDRE.

FIREPLACE.

(Application filed May 29, 1899.)

(.No Model.)

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LEWIS O. ANDRE, OF MARS, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIREPLACE.

srnorrronr ion forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,918, dated January23, 1900.

Application filed May 29, 1899. Serial No. 718,724. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS C. ANDRE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mars, in

the county of Butler and State of Pennsylva 4 nia, have invented a newand useful Fireplace, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to open fireplaces, and has for one object toprovide a portable structure which may be readily assembled and fittedin the chimney-opening. The fireplace is especially designed for burningsoft coal and is provided with a draft arrangement whereby the smoke andgases are effectually directed upward through the chimney and a backdraft into the room is prevented.

A further object is to prevent the loss of the heat upward through thechimney by radiating or throwing off the heat into the room.

With these objects in View the present invention consists in thecombination and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the drawings, and particularly pointed out inthe appended claim, it being understood that the improvement issusceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, size, and theminor details of construction without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the improved fireplacefitted into a chimney. Fig. 2 is a'vertical longitudinal sectional viewthereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 0000, Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the device removed from thechimney.

The same numerals of reference are used to designate like andcorresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

The framework of the present device is formed of cast metal andcomprises, essen tially, a front 1, opposite skeleton sides 2, and abowed skeleton back 3. The front is in a single flat piece having alarge opening of suitable shape forming an entrance into the fireplaceand may have any preferred design or ornamentation. The inner verticaledges of the front at opposite sides of the opening therein are bentinward for the entire length of the opening, so as to provide verticalflanges 4, for a purpose whichwill appear hereinafter.

Each side comprises an upright oblong skel eton frame 5, having a bowedor arcuate extension 6 projecting rearwardly from the rear side of theoblong frame, and diagonal braces 7 extending from the respective upperand lower outer corners of the frame to the bowed extension andintersecting centrally within the sides of the frame. Other braces 8extend from the respective diagonalbraces to the adjacent upper,andlower inner corners of the frame, and a transverse brace 9 extendsfrom side to side of the frame through the point of intersection of thediagonal braces. The straightfront edges of the sides 2 are fitted flushagainst the rear side of the front 1 and spaced a suitable distanceoutwardly from the respective flanges 4. Each side is connected to thefront by means of integral ears or lugs 10, projecting laterally outwardfrom the front of the side and riveted or bolted to arched orsubstantially U-shaped clips or brackets 11, cast upon the inner face ofthe front. It is preferable to connect the sides to the front in themanner described, so as to avoid bolt-openings or otherwise marring theappearance of the outer exposed face of the front. The upper end of.each side section is made vertically extensible, so as to fitfireplaceopenings of difierent heights, by means of a movablerectangular plate 12, provided with opposite vertical slots 13, formedin the sides thereof and adjustably connected to the upper end of theside section 2 by means of suitable bolts 14, carried by the section andextending through the respective slots 13.

The skeleton back comprises the opposite bowed or arcuate sides 15,fitting snugly against the bowed rear sides of the opposite sidesections 2, the lower end 1.6 of the back beingv straightenedvertically, so as to fit against the lower straight rear edges of theside sections, and the upper end of the back the upper corners of theback to the opposite sides, intermediate of the ends thereof, and

other crossed braces 18 extend from points intermediate of the lowerportions of the upper crossed braces to the lower transverse end 19 ofthe back. Suitable transverse braces 20 and 21, respectively, extendfrom opposite sides of the back through the points of intersection ofthe respective upper and lower crossed braces, and a shorter transversebrace 22 connects the upper ends of the lower crossed braces at theirpoint of juncture with the uppercrossed braces. Ashortlongitudinal brace23 extends from the point of intersection of the upper crossed braces tothe upper end 24 of the back. Each side of the back is provided with aplurality of cars 25, which are adapted to be bolted or riveted to therear edges of the respective side sections, so as to connect the partsof the fireplace structure in a convenient and substantial manner.

A firebrick lining 26 is fitted to the inner faceof the back section 2,extends the entire length and width thereof, and is supported at itslower end upon a transverse flange 27, extending inwardly from the lowerend of the skeleton back. Similar linings 28 are provided for each ofthe side sections 2, the front edges of each lining being held in placeby the respective flanges at of the front 1, and the rear edges beingseated in suitable rabbets 29, provided in the inner face of the backlining.

A suitable basket-grate 30is provided within the structure, at the lowerend of the bowed portion of the back, and may be mounted 'in place inany desired manner. Below the grate an opening 31 is provided throughthe back, and located at opposite sides of the opening and extendingrearwardly from the back is a pair of vertical plates or wings 32. Byreference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that when thepresent device is fitted in place the plates 32 fit flush against therear wall 33 of the chimney, whereby a draft-passage 34 is provided,communicating from the opening 31 upward into the chimney. The smokepassing upward through the flue-opening 35 between the upper end of theback and the front section and into the chimney creates an updraftthrough the draftpassage 34 and draws the light ashes, dust, &c., whichmay accumulate beneath the grate upward into the chimney, and therebyprevents choking of the fireplace beneath the grate.

Extending transversely across the upper ends of the opposite sidesections 2 is a baffleplate 30, located directlyover and extending asuitable distance in rear of the flue-opening 35, provided between theupper end of the bowed back and the front 1. The purpose of this bafiie-plate is to provide a smoke and hotair chamber and to prevent a directascent and escape of the heated air through the flueopening, and therebyconfine the air as much as possible within the fireplace structure. Bythis arrangement the upper portions of the fire-clay linings 26' and 28are continually kept in a heated condition and radiate their heat intothe room through the opening provided in the front of the fireplace. Itwill thus be appreciated that the fire-clay linings form radiatingmeans, as well as protecting the metallic structure from the heat of thefire contained in the grate.

It will be noted that the opposite adjustable plates 12 normally extendabove the entrance-opening in the frontsection and have their frontedges fitting snugly the rear or inner side of the said front section,and the substantially horizontal bafiie-plate 36 is supported solelyupon the upper ends of the adj ustable plates, is movable therewith, andhas its front longitudinal edge snugly fitting the rear or inner side ofthe front section and above the upper edge of the entrance-openingtherein. By this arrangement a smoke and hot-air chamber is form edwhich is closed at its upper end, its opposite sides,and its front side,and has a bottom entrance-opening and a rear outlet-opening.Furthermore, as the baffle-plate is movable with the adjustable plates12 this smoke and hot-air chamber may be adjusted in size so as toaccommodate the fireplace to the peculiar conditions existing in thechimney to which the device may be applied.

The draft may be regulated by means of a damper 37, located between thetop of the bowed back and the bafiie-plate 36. This damper'is in theform of a plate extending the entire distance between the sides of thefireplace and bowed laterally to conform to the shape of the back 3,over which it is adapted to slide, and is provided intermediate its endsat its front side with a comparatively small opening 38. It will beunderstood that the damper is adapted to slide back and forth so as toclose the flue-opening, and thereby cut off the draft. It is notdesirable to entirely cut off the draft at any time, and for this reasonthe small opening 38 has'been provided to permit of a slight draft whenthe damper has been closed.

To operate the damper, I have provided a worm-screw 39, journaled at itsrear end in an upstanding bearing-lug 40, provided upon the back 3 andhaving its forward end extending through the front piece 1 and providedwith a suitable operating-handle 41 in front of the fireplace. Thedamper is provided with an ear or lug 12, having an opening adapted toreceive the worm-screw, and by operation of the latter it will beunderstood that the damper-plate may be moved toward and away fromthefront piece'l to open and close the flue-opening. This operating meansis preferably located midway between the ends of the damper, and thelatter are adapted to slidably engage the inner faces of the oppositeside sections 2, whereby the damper is conveniently guided in itsmovement.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the handle 41 is provided with a socket 43,adapted to receive the outer end of the shank of the wor1n-screw 39,

and a suitable screw 44 is carried by the handle and adapted to bindagainst the shank of the worm-screw, so as to removably connect thehandle thereto.

To increase the depth of the fireplace, the front 1 is bulged outward,as at 45, 'all around the entrance-opening formed through said front,whereby the opposite fire-brick linings 28 are adapted to project beyondthe plane ofthe front of the fireplace and also permitting the grate 30to extend in advance of said front, as best shown in Fig. 3. Thus itwill be seen that the depth of the fireplace is increased withoutmaterially increasing the size of said fireplace. The'purpose ofincreasing the depth of the grate is to obtain the maximum space for thefuel, and thereby increase the heating capacity of the fireplace. Alsoit will be noted that the bulged portion 46, extending across the top ofthe entranceopening, provides an overhanging hood which is adapted toincrease the draft upward through the flue-opening 35.

.What I claim is- In a fireplace,the combination of a front sectionhaving .an entrance-opening, opposite side sections, a back section,having its upper end extending inwardly between the side ner or rearside of the front section, also movable" with the adjustable plates, andforming an adjustable smoke and hot-air chamber,

closed at its upper end, opposite sides and front, and having a bottominlet-opening, and a rear outlet-opening.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS o. ANDRE,

Witnesses:

J. M. MOCANNA, WILL R. COOK.

